Finding the Spark (Pathfinder 1E Quest)
- Thread starter DragonParadox
- Start date
- Fantasy
-
- Tags
- pathfinder
Massgamer
Advance toward the Future
- Location
- The Future
Hmm, if nothing else we can tell the princess where to find this secret chamber later when she raids the place, that way she can add to crime list.
But we are looking for something specific, and this is not it.
[X] Close the secret compartment and keep looking down the corridor
But we are looking for something specific, and this is not it.
[X] Close the secret compartment and keep looking down the corridor
- Location
- St. Petersburg
I can't make sense of this. This is obviously not a work of a rogue agent, as such an abode does not come into existence without proper authorization and lots of people being in on it.
But why an imp would be killed while getting out to, presumably, escape the place? Are they using demon summoning as a way to communicate?
But why an imp would be killed while getting out to, presumably, escape the place? Are they using demon summoning as a way to communicate?
It would be hitting nails with a microscope, but can one use targeted demon summoning to pass things and information around?
Oh yeah, as long as both summoners know the name of the devil and they agree when to summon and send it back it would work.
Technically just summoning evil outsiders isn't illegal in Taldor, but you do need a special permit approved by one of the major religions attesting that you aren't worshiping its boss, which is illegal.
Massgamer
Advance toward the Future
- Location
- The Future
Which I doubt they will have on hand, and therefore added to list!
- Location
- Germany
I think for Eutropia's purposes, we have already won here.
Showing that House Basri wasn't just playing games, but is actively summoning Devils (beyond their skill to properly summon or control I should add) will definitely justify her actions, even if they do manage to send a message to Oppara.
Showing that House Basri wasn't just playing games, but is actively summoning Devils (beyond their skill to properly summon or control I should add) will definitely justify her actions, even if they do manage to send a message to Oppara.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
I doubt the Diabolist is a secret to the leadership of House Basri, if only based on what we've learned of their actions up to now, but I wouldn't be surprised if similar hidden chambers are fairly common in centuries old structures like this one. There could be several similar setups just like it in other rooms of the manor. Time, money, and magic make lots of things possible.
The Imp could have been killed because it was annoying the giant guardian snake, just like Cob was doing earlier. They're small and sneaky, can turn Invisible at will, and they're malicious little assholes, so it's all too easy to believe it ran afoul of the snake.
Yep. Just having this much evidence of Devil Summoning present, along with what has been uncovered of House Basri's recent actions, points to them being in bed with House Thrune or some other Hell aligned faction in Cheliax.
It's one thing to say you're trying to prevent a war with Cheliax while playing up your loyalty to Taldor, but it's another thing entirely when you look at it from the angle of preventing war while simultaneously weakening Taldan interests. That paints you as a Chellish asset.
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- Location
- St. Petersburg
Not quite. They can claim they were using it to spy on House Thrune and keep abreast of their infernal affairs. One man's diplomats is another man's spy, and sometimes even the very same men can't tell which is which, and who is playing whom.
But involvement with Chelish business devalues any claims of 'anti-Chelish profiteering'.
I wonder, though, if this isn't it, what is it that we are looking for?
- Location
- Germany
[X] Close the secret compartment and keep looking down the corridor
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Assuming they aren't using Devil Summoning to pass messages and documents back and forth, which while possible is also massively more complicated and dangerous than any other magical alternative, we are probably looking for en enchanted communication device.
Short of just transporting documents via teleportation to cut out middle men and potential points of failure, there are several items a wealthy schemer who wishes to pass secret messages and information to a conspirator may be using.
Shell of Sending – d20PFSRD
www.d20pfsrd.com
Agent’s Clasp – d20PFSRD
www.d20pfsrd.com
Book of Whispers – d20PFSRD
www.d20pfsrd.com
And these are just regular items which don't take into account custom stuff, like a pair of mirrors enchanted with permanent Mirror Sight spells to link them.
Mirror Sight – d20PFSRD
www.d20pfsrd.com
A matched pair of Rings Gates would be great for this sort of stuff, too.
Ring Gates – d20PFSRD
www.d20pfsrd.com
Vote closed.
Arc 10: Post 9: Secrets in Small Hands
New
Secrets in Small Hands
22th of Kuthona 4707 A.R. (Absalom Reckoning)
Down and around you go, taking nothing. The corridor turns at the statue of an antlered youth with every point bearing a candle, some kind of shrine most like, but also you are quick to find a door and not really a hidden one for all Cob has to search for the leaver, the single horn whose candle had blown out. The carpet continues unabated, obvious to those with eyes to see, and raised voices echo from up ahead. Secure yet in the privacy of their domain the members of House Basri debate their fate in worried tones as children argue with their parents, and they in turn with their elders.
"Why do I have to go alone?" one little girl with lightning blue hair asks, voice cutting through the others only for her... brother, you think it's her brother at least, almost of an age to elbow her as a reminder that she will not be going alone.
"Like I said, alone," the girl insisted.
There's a sense of hurried activity wholly unlike the abandoned wing you had come from, one that makes you glad to be able to slink along the wall and out of sight, but more importantly you are starting to wonder just how much of House Basri Eutropia would even get a chance to speak to. If they have blackmail on her, why would they be sending their relatives away? Is the lord of the House worried that she would threaten his family if she had them in her grasp?
Stopping for a moment you bid Cob to warn the others through his... pebble to warn the princess. Hopefully she won't do anything rash, but it feels like she has proven herself enough to take the risk. No sooner had you said that that the shifting tapestries abruptly freeze, the thread bereft of glamor-craft that flows from them like a blush mist, and through it passes a man with robes of the same hue adorned in gold so beloved of the highborn of Taldor. His eyes gleam with pale light all too familiar, the sight of unseen things.
Akorian Spellcraft (DC 17): 1d20+9 = 17 [Success)But much to your relief his attention doesn't linger in the shadow of a tall urn where you and Cob now crouch, he looks to the girl: "Do you remember what I told you to say?"
The child nods and recites with the sing-song gravity that only the very young can master: "I'm to excuse myself for seeking an audience under false pretenses, but inform His Majesty that the princess has been conspiring with Andoran rabble-rousers and the dragon Sonthonax. There's proof of that right there in Oppara, at the Drunken Weasel," she giggles. "There's a man who sailed with the pirates who would bear witness under truth magic to having seen her in the company of the dragon, including a delivery of a large amount of s..sp..pc...spie... "
"Specie, it just means gold, say gold coin," the wizard says softly. "And remember you are to say all this unless I tell you otherwise in your head. Don't worry about anything else, the audience it already arranged, but you will be the only one who knows the truth. And just in case they get to the witness..." he drew a single coin from his pocket and places it into her hand. "Reading the history of this should give the highlights of the story."
With that he unfurls a scroll and begins to chant a spell of translocation.
What do you do?
[] Cob tries to steal the coin out of the child's hand (Slight of Hand opposed to the Perception of everyone present -5 against the girl)
[] Grab the coin openly and run
-[] Write in plan
[] Write in
OOC: How do you plot against a paladin? By using a small child whom you know they will not harm and will have trouble impeding as your messenger. Rolls hidden since seeing his Perception bonus would be spoilers, but you guys have been doing very well with stealth since entering.
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Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
That's clever. Screwed up, but clever.
I was hoping to completely avoid combat or any sort of confrontation here, but it doesn't look like that will be possible, not if we want to prevent the scheme from progressing.
Cob has a decent Sleight of Hand bonus, but it's nothing special. There is no doubt he can take the coin. His Stealth is ridiculous, after all, but doing it within anyone noticing and causing a fuss is unlikely. More importantly, just snatching the coin isn't enough. We need to prevent him from teleporting the child altogether.
I was hoping to completely avoid combat or any sort of confrontation here, but it doesn't look like that will be possible, not if we want to prevent the scheme from progressing.
Cob has a decent Sleight of Hand bonus, but it's nothing special. There is no doubt he can take the coin. His Stealth is ridiculous, after all, but doing it within anyone noticing and causing a fuss is unlikely. More importantly, just snatching the coin isn't enough. We need to prevent him from teleporting the child altogether.
- Location
- St. Petersburg
Not really. If we take the coin without being noticed, all that remains is to take out the witness in Oppara. Who is involved in piracy, and has little in the way of legal protection should anything happen.
The princess may be a paladin, but people sharing responsibility for her operations are most assuredly not.
I wonder if it wouldn't be easier to take a ride with the girl and take care of the business on the other end. But that has its own risks.
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Massgamer
Advance toward the Future
- Location
- The Future
Well shit, they are acting fast and unsure if we can totally stop them.
Could we interrupt attempt at translocation and try to steal/destroy the scroll instead? Throw a flashbomb or something so we blind people so see invisibility doesn't matter?
We have anything spell/equipment wise we can use here @Goldfish for that?
Could we interrupt attempt at translocation and try to steal/destroy the scroll instead? Throw a flashbomb or something so we blind people so see invisibility doesn't matter?
We have anything spell/equipment wise we can use here @Goldfish for that?
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Here's what I've got so far.
There is obviously a lot of this plot already in place that we cannot really do anything about. They have people in Oppara ready to act and an audience with the First Prince arranged, even without the child playing messenger and delivery girl, so the best we can really do here is try to weaken their hand by taking the coin and forewarning the princess so she can have her supporters mobilize on her behalf. She'll also have information about House Basri sheltering at least one Diabolist, likely a high ranking member of the family at that.
Best case scenario, we take the coin without being noticed. That way the girl shows up in Oppara and the House Basri folks here in Cassomir think they have their bases covered, while Eutropia sets the ball rolling against them without their knowledge.
[X] Smooth Criminal
-[X] Cob tries to steal the coin out of the child's hand, using Hermean Potential to roll twice and take the higher result (+15 Sleight of Hand bonus opposed to the Perception of everyone present -5 against the girl)
--[X] If Cob's actions are noticed by the Wizard, causing him to stop casting the spell, or the child notices the theft and calls the Wizard's attention to it, Pepper will drop the Deeper Darkness pebble out of the Handy Haversack and Kori will use Shadow Enchantment to cast Hold Person targeting the Wizard. If this happens, they will immediately alert the others that things have gone pear-shaped and that the princess should make her move.
--[X] If Cob's actions are not noticed, they will wait until the child is teleported away, then immediately begin sneaking out of the house while Cob uses Shoffe to relay what was learned to the princess.
Having Cob at least attempt to snag the coin is the right course of action, IMO. He has a good chance to succeed thanks to Hermean Potential, and if he does we can sneak back out with no one the wiser. The child will show up and give her statement, but she won't have any corroborating evidence to present, and the situation is already pretty suspicious. If that pirate is also dealt with by Eutropia's supporters in Oppara, the plot will be largely defanged.
If he fails, then things get a bit more hectic. In that case, the Deeper Darkness pebble renders the Wizard effectively Blind, so he isn't going to be able to use the scroll and most if not all of his spell casting options will become quite limited, assuming he resists Kori's spell.
There is obviously a lot of this plot already in place that we cannot really do anything about. They have people in Oppara ready to act and an audience with the First Prince arranged, even without the child playing messenger and delivery girl, so the best we can really do here is try to weaken their hand by taking the coin and forewarning the princess so she can have her supporters mobilize on her behalf. She'll also have information about House Basri sheltering at least one Diabolist, likely a high ranking member of the family at that.
Best case scenario, we take the coin without being noticed. That way the girl shows up in Oppara and the House Basri folks here in Cassomir think they have their bases covered, while Eutropia sets the ball rolling against them without their knowledge.
[X] Smooth Criminal
-[X] Cob tries to steal the coin out of the child's hand, using Hermean Potential to roll twice and take the higher result (+15 Sleight of Hand bonus opposed to the Perception of everyone present -5 against the girl)
--[X] If Cob's actions are noticed by the Wizard, causing him to stop casting the spell, or the child notices the theft and calls the Wizard's attention to it, Pepper will drop the Deeper Darkness pebble out of the Handy Haversack and Kori will use Shadow Enchantment to cast Hold Person targeting the Wizard. If this happens, they will immediately alert the others that things have gone pear-shaped and that the princess should make her move.
--[X] If Cob's actions are not noticed, they will wait until the child is teleported away, then immediately begin sneaking out of the house while Cob uses Shoffe to relay what was learned to the princess.
We can interrupt the spell, but I don't really know how much good it will do. The Oppara end of the plot is happening with or without Basri assistance. If we interfere now, they will know they've been found out and that could lead to further unwanted complications.
Having Cob at least attempt to snag the coin is the right course of action, IMO. He has a good chance to succeed thanks to Hermean Potential, and if he does we can sneak back out with no one the wiser. The child will show up and give her statement, but she won't have any corroborating evidence to present, and the situation is already pretty suspicious. If that pirate is also dealt with by Eutropia's supporters in Oppara, the plot will be largely defanged.
If he fails, then things get a bit more hectic. In that case, the Deeper Darkness pebble renders the Wizard effectively Blind, so he isn't going to be able to use the scroll and most if not all of his spell casting options will become quite limited, assuming he resists Kori's spell.
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Keep in mind he arrange the means to stop the kid, he is still trying to blackmail the princess with the information to get off not just have it fire so if he had weaker blackmail she might either decide to tank it or negotiate for a lesser out on House Basri's part.